Palparan must surrender if he's innocent - Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Fugitive retired Army Maj. Jovito Palparan must surrender now and defend himself before the courts if he is really innocent of the charges against him, Malacañang said yesterday.

“If he really thinks he is innocent, he should come out and face the charges against him,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over dzRB.

The Palace was reacting to Palparan’s appealing the decision of the Malolos regional trial court to junk his bid to stop his prosecution for the disappearance of University of the Philippines student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006. Valte said Palparan is assured of fair trial.

Palparan reportedly eluded arrest two days ago in a raid in one of the posh subdivisions in Davao City.

“That is our assurance to everyone. We are not just here to run after you just because we want to. We have always made a commitment to afford due process and ample protection of the rights of accused whoever they are,” she said.

Valte also clarified that the Palace never called Palparan a “butcher” and that the hunt for him would not boost the cause of the communists.